BANGKOK, 23 May 2013 Taxi drivers are looking to lodge a petition to raise the price of their service, both for the long distance rate and traffic jam rate.
Withun Naewphanit, president of Bangkok Taxi Cooperatives Network, revealed he has submitted a petition to the Ministry of Transport asking for taxi’s initial fare to start at 40 baht instead of 35 baht, for the long-distance rate to be increased by 20%, and for the jammed-traffic rate to increase from 1.50 baht per minute to 2 baht per minute.
Mr. Withun explained that costs which cab drivers have to shoulder have increased because of the heightened taxi rental rate and natural gas cost. He added the taxi meter rates have not been increased for a long time.
Mr. Withun expects the Land Transport Department to call a meeting with representatives of cab drivers in a week or two, and that conclusion on the matter should be reached within June.
